“Tooting so cool right now” that’s what reads on the message board of popular brunch spot Brickwood Cafe. And with a good reason. Tooting has been chosen amongst the 10 best neighborhoods to visit in the world by Lonely Planet. As it happens, Tooting is actually my neighborhood. I choose to live here because I’m love with how multicultural it is, and to be very frank, I’m mostly in love of its super fun markets. To second Lonely Planet: Tooting’s is gritty, but wonderful.
It’s no surprise that Tel Aviv has lately become a very popular travel destination as it is vibrant, dynamic and cosmopolitan. Tel Aviv is famous for its beaches, nightlife, music, art, food and style. It is one of a kind city with a mix of old and new. Having road-tripped around in Israel, Tel Aviv is where I felt most at home as it’s no different to London in that there are so many trendy places to eat and drink, designer stores, and all the things we millennials love. But the good thing is that it’s warm, sunny and has beaches! In this post you’ll find a long list of things to do in Tel Aviv as well as where to stay and how to get to and around the city.
Jaffa (also known as Yafo) is the ancient port city out of which Tel Aviv has now grown. Jaffa has, in recent years and like much of Tel Aviv, been regenerated with its old narrow streets and courtyards becoming another highly desirable part of Tel Aviv. Jaffa is a real melting pot of Jewish and Arab populations living and breathing the same closely-packed air. A great way to explore Jaffa is through this 1-hour segway tour!
Cinque Terre had been on my bucket list for ages (thanks to Instagram), and I managed to visit during Covid! The pictures of the gorgeous towns is something most of us probably recognise. Cinque Terre attracts 2.4 million visitors a year to trek, boat and train their way through its dramatic cliffs and picture perfect coastal villages.
Cinque Terre is a stretch of the Italian Riviera which consists of five, UNESCO protected villages: Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore. They are all perched within the Cinque Terre National Park and protected by the sparkling Mediterranean Sea to the west.
Each village is its own beauty, most of them share the pastel buildings and pristine sea views, but each has its own different vibe. The Cinque Terre is located just south of Genoa in north-west Italy in the region of Liguria.
Koh Phi Phi is an absolute must of Thailand. It’s most well known for being the gateway to Maya Bay. My top reason to visit Koh Phi Phi though, is the color of the sea. I’ve never seen such a beautiful range of turquoises and greens in the sea water all within the same area. Most people complain that it’s too touristy and so busy that it’s not worth going. If you go in late April like I did, I assure you that you won’t have that problem. In fact I was a bit like, where’s everyone at?
See below my bucket list items for the island of Koh Phi Phi, plus transport and accommodation tips!